Combined car and air-brake coupling



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. J. LUPTON. COMBINED CAR AND AIR BRAKE COUPLING.

No. 438,296. Patented July 29, 1890.

Zr I

.11 //v VENTOH ATTORNEYS (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

D. J. LUPTON.

COMBINED CAR AND AIR BRAKE COUPLING.

No. 433,296. Patented July 29, 1890.

A TTORNEYS m: Noam! PLTER5 coy, maroumm, wAskmcYuu, u. c.

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 3.

D. J. LUPTON. COMBINED CAR AND AIR BRAKE COUPLING.

No. 433,296. I Patented July 29, 1890.

WITNESSES. W1 INVENTOR: 1% W M MQ By ig A TTORNE YS n4: "cams PETERSco., mom-umo.. WASHINGYON. m c.

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 4.

D. J. LUPTON.

COMBINED CAR AND AIR BRAKE OOUPLING.

No. 433,296. Patented July 29, 1890.

26- INVENTOR:

A TTOHNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID J. LUPTON, OF JERUSALEM, OHIO.

COMBINED CAR AND AIR-BRAKE COUPLING.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,296, dated July 29,1890.

Application filed December 17, 1889. Serial No. 334,043. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID J. LUPTON, of Jerusalem, in the county ofMonroe and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Combined Carand Air-Brake Coupler, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to that class of carcouplers that couple uponcontact and that can be uncoupled from the platform of a passenger-caror from the top of a freight-car; and the object of my invention is toprovide means for effectively coupling ears automatically and ofuncoupling them in such a manner that the operator will not need tostand between the cars, also to combine with the car-coupler anautomatic coupler for the steam or air brake connections, so that theair-pipe will be coupled and uncoupled by the same operation thatcouples and uncouples the carcouplers, thus enabling air-brakes to beused upon freight-cars with greater facility than they are now used uponpassenger-cars.

To this end my invention consists in certain features of constructionand combinations of parts, hereinafter fully described, and specificallypointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters and figures of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of two couplers embodying my inventioncoupled together and applied to passengercars. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the coupler as applied to a freight-car, showing a rod bywhich the coupler is operated from the top of the car; Fig. 3, a sideelevation of the same; Fig. 4:, a side elevation of the coupler, partlyin section, on the line as m of Fig. 5; Fig. 5, a plan of the same; Fig.6, a longitudinal" section on the line y y of Figs. 5 and 8, showing thefront end of the coupler in elevation; Fig. '7, a horizontal section ofthe air-brake coupler on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a horizontalsection on the line 2 2 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9, a plan view of the air-brakecoupler; Fig. 10, an enlarged front elevation of the coupler; Fig. 11, atransverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 8,

and Fig. 12 a plan view of a modification of the device.

The frame A of the car-coupler is provided with a shank A, which extendsback through a frame B,in which it is supported, the frame B beingrigidly attached to the end beams of the car 0 C. The shank A isretained in the frame B bya key a, which passes through a slot in theshank A and rests against the back of the frame B. The shank A of thecoupler-frame A is backed by a buffer-spring D in the usual manner toprevent excessive jolting.

The coupler frameA is hollowed out in front and provided on one sidewith a forwardly-extending arm A and on the other side with twof0rwardly-extending ears AF, arranged at the top and bottom of thecoupler, and between which is pivoted the coupling-piece E. Thecoupling-piece E is of curved form and is pivoted to the ears A of thecoupler-frame A by the pin 1), which passes through the couplingpiecenear the center of the curve, so that the forward end of thecoupling-piece will extend laterally in front of the mouth of thecoupler, and the rear end in the form of a shank will extend aroundinside the couplerframe A, where it may be retained by a vertical key(Z, which extends down through the coupler-fraine. A

The outside of the coupling-piece E is provided with rounding teeth 6,arranged thereon behind the pin b, which engage the end of a flat springf, which is attached to the side of the coupler-frame A by a screw g, sothat when the rear end of the coupling-piece E is released by the key (Zthe spring f, pressing against the teeth e and having the pin Z) for afulcrum, will press in the rear end of the coupling-piece E and swingthe forward end into open position ready to receive the coupling ofanother car. The coupling-piece E is also provided with two projectingears E, through which passes an ordinary couplingpin I-I, so that thecoupling-piece may be coupled to the link of an old-style coupling inthe usual manner.

The key d is pivoted at the top to the interior of the coupler-frame Aby the pin d. it extends down through the coupler-frame A,

ICO

and is curved backwardly at its lower end, so that it will enter theframe K of the air-brake coupler. It is also capable of a limitedoscillating movement in the vertical recess h of the coupler-frame A.

A fiat key M extends laterally through the coupler-frame A through aslot in said frame, in which it may slide. The inner side of the key isnotched and beveled at the part 1, (shown in dotted lines in Figs. and8,) and the beveled part bears against the front of the key cl, and oneend of the key is provided with a slot 1', which engages the end of thecrankarm j of the rod N. The rod N extends vertically through two ears Ion the outside of the coupler-frame A, in which it turns, and the lowerend of the rod is provided with a crank-arm j, having adownardlyextending pin, which enters the slot 1 of the key M. The upperend of the rod N extends upward through the passenger-platform C, and inthe case of a freight-car is elongated so as to reach the top of thecar, and is provided with a lever-handle P, pivoted thereto by the pinon, so that it may swing vertically. The top of the platform and of thecar are provided with catches n, which receive the handle P and preventit from turning.

The air-brake coupler K is provided with a backwardly-extending shank L,which slides in the bearing 0, and around which is coiled the spiralspring 1", one end of the spring bearing against the back part of theair-brake, coupler frame K, and the other against the bearing 0, so thatthe spring will keep the frame K and the key (1, the end of which entersthe frame K, pushed forward.

When the cars provided with this coupler cometogether, one of thecoupling-pieces E will slip in behind the corresponding piece of theother coupling, and the extending arms A of the couplings will strikethe coupling-pieces E, tipping the front end of the coupling-piecesinward, forcing the rear ends of the couplingpieces outward, and forcingback the keys cl until the rear ends of the coupling-pieces E pass thekey d, when the springr, acting upon the frame K and key d, will forcethe key forward in front of the rear end of the coupling-pieces, asshown in Fig. 8, thus holding them in locked position. v

To uncouple the cars, the handle P is raised from the catch at andturned back, thus turning the rod N and arm j, and the arm 7', acting onthe slot i, will draw out the key M, and as the beveled part 1 of thekey-strikes the vertical key d it will force it back into the recess h,and the spring f, acting on the coupling-piece E, will swing it intoopen position, as already described. When the handle P is turned back,the key M will be pushed in and the spring 0" will again throw the keyat forward ready for another operation.

The air-brake coupler K is provided 011 each side at the top withprojecting flanges K', which move in the slide-grooves S in the bottomof the car-coupler frame A, and by which the air-brake-coupler frame Kis suspended from the car-coupler frame. The front of the frame K isprovided with a door R, which swings downwardly upon the bolt 15, thedoor being fastened in closed position by a key and staple 5. The door Ris provided upon one side with a projecting nozzle R, having an annularrubber band a fixed in a groove around it, and with a projecting plate Rfixed in the mouth of the nozzle, the purpose of which will appearhereinafter. Upon the other side of the doorR is a circular opening Rwhich is lined with a rubber ring to assist in packing, and adapted toreceive a nozzle R of anoth ersimilar coupling. Within the frame K is amovable abutment T, having its front portion covered bya rubber pad orpacking-piece T, which closes over the opening to the nozzle'R and theopening R The abutment T and packing T are pressed against the frontpart of the. frame K and over the openings above described by a spiralspring T which is hold in place by a guiderod T and the abutment isprevented from moving laterally by a screw 6, which passes through thebottom of the frame K and into a slot in the bottom of the abutment. Tothe top of the chamber formed by the frame K is attached a spring-plateV by the screws 0, and which is provided with a forwardlyprojecting hookW and a small hook W which engages an inclined slot or groove 2 in thekey M, and which passes through a recess 3 of the key M when the frame Kis pushed backward and forward. When the cars are coupled, as heretoforedescribed, the nozzle R of the air-brake coupler K will enter theopening R of the opposite coupler, the rubber bands to will pressagainst the walls of the openings in doors R and prevent the air fromescaping from the couplers, and

the plates R will push the packings T and.

abutments T, so that the air which enters the side of the air-brakecouplers through the opening g, which communicates with the airpipes,will circulate freely around theabutments T and through the nozzles R.The hook W will spring over the shoulders 4 at the top of the doors R,thus holding the parts together. The door R is held in closed positionby a Wooden key, which passes through the staple 5, so that if the carsshould break,

apart the hook W would pull open the door by breaking the wooden key,and the brakes would be set. and the cars stopped.

When the handle P is turned and the key M drawn to uncouple the cars,as. above described, the hook W will engagethe inclined slot or groove 2of the key M, and, following the incline of the groove, will raise thespringplate W and release the hook W from the shoulder l of theair-coupler K, thus uncoupling the air-pipes at the same time that thecars are uncoupled. When the keyM is again pushed in to set thecar-coupler, as described,

IIO

the hook WV will travel down the incline of the groove 2 and the plate 7will spring back into position ready for another operation.

In Fig. 12 I have shown a modification of the car-coupler shown in theother figures,

but which works in the same way as the device described, the onlydifference being in the form, the projecting arm A being more flaringthan the arm A and the couplingpiece E being bent ata more acute anglethan the coupling-piece E.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A car-coupler consisting, essentially, of a frame having aforwardly-projecting arm upon one side thereof, forwardly-projectingears upon the other side thereof, a bent or curved coupling-piecepivoted between said cars, a spring-actuated vertical key adapted toengage the rear en d of the coupling-piece and lock the same in closedposition, and a spring attached to the outside of the frame and havingits free end bearing upon the rear of the coupling-piece, so as to swingthe same into open position, substantially as described.

2. In a ear-coupler, the combination, with a coupler having a curved orbent couplingpiece pivoially attached in the mouth thereof, of avertical spring-actuated key adapted'to lock said coupling-piece inclosed position, a horizontal key movable laterally in said frame andadapted to release said vertical key from the coupling-piece, and aspring attached to the side of the frame and adapted to swing thecoupling-piece into open position, substantially as described.

In a cancoupler, the combination, with a coupler-frame having acoupling-piece pivotally attached in the mouth thereof, of aspring-actuated vertical key adapted to engage the rear end of saidcoupling-piece and lock it in closed position, a horizontal key movablelaterally in said frame and adapted 5 .to force back said vertical keyand unlock the coupling-piece, and a vertical shaft connecting with saidhorizontal key and extending to the platform or top of a car, andprovided with a handle whereby said horizontal key may be actuated,substantially as described.

4:. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the frame A, having thecurved coupling-piece E, pivotally attached thereto, of thespringactuated key (1, fiat key M, and rod N, provided with armj andhandle P, substantially as described.

5. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the frame A, having thecurved or bent coupling-piece E, provided with teeth e, pivotallyattached thereto, of the vertical spring-actuated key d, the flat key M,having slot t, rod N, provided with arm j and handle P, and spring f,substantially as described.

6. The combinatioi1,witl1 acar-couplerhavin g a eoupling-piece pivotallyattached in the mouth thereof, and a vertical spring-actuated key forlocking the coupling-piece in closed position, of an air-brake couplerhaving the frame thereof attached to the frame of the car-coupler andconnected with said vertical key of the car-coupler in such a mannerthat the air-brake coupler will move backward and forward with saidvertical key and couple and uucouple in unison with the car-coupler.

7. The combination, with a car-coupler having a coupling-piece pivotallyattached in the mouth thereof, a vertical key adapted to lock saidcoupling-piece in open or closed position, and a horizontal keyconnected with said vertical key, and with a vertical rod having ahandle thereon adapted to move said horizontal key and actuate saidvertical key, of an air-brake coupler adapted to slide in the bottom ofthe ear-coupler frame, having its frame actuated by a spring andconnected with the vertical locking-key of the carcoupler, and having aspring-plate provided with a hook adapted to engage an inclined grooveof the horizontal key of the car-coupler, so that when said key isactuated to couple or uncouple the car the spring-plate of the air-brakecoupler will be raised or lowered to couple or uncouple the air-brakecoupler, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a car-coupler, substantiallyas shown, of anair-brake coupler adapted to slide in the car-coupler, said airbrakecoupler consisting, essentially, of a spring-actuated frame inclosing anair-chamber connecting with the pipe of an air-brake, and having a doorin front provided with a projecting nozzle upon one side thereof opening from the air-chamber and having an opening on the other side adaptedto receive the nozzle of a corresponding coupler, said airchambercontaining a movable spring-actuated abutment adapted to close theopenings to the coupler-nozzles, and having a springplate provided witha projecting hook adapt ed to engage the shoulder of an adjoiningcoupler, and a hook connecting with the horizontal key of theear-coupler, by which said plate may be raised and uncoupled in unisonwith the uncoupling of the car-coupler, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the car-coupler frame A, having thecoupling-piece E, pivotally attached thereto, of the key d,air-brakecoupler frame K, provided with shank L, spring 0, and bearing0, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the car-coupler frame A, provided withhorizontal key M and rod N, having handle P and arm j, of theairbrake-coupler frame K, adapted to slide in the frame A, and havingspring-plate XV, provided with a projecting hook W, and a hook adaptedto engage the key M, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the frame A, having the keys (Z and M,arranged therein and operated as described, of the air-brake coupler K,having shank L, provided with spring 0',

and having a spring-plate W, provided with forwardly-projecting hook V,and a hook W for engaging the key M, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a carcoupler consisting of a frame A, havingthe couplingpiece E, keys d and M, and rod N, provided with armj andhandle P, arranged and operated substantially as shown, of an air-brakecoupler adapted to slide in the frame of the car-coupler and consisting,essentially, of the frame K, having shank L and spring 0', anair-chamber connecting with the air-pipe of the air-brake, aspring-actuated movable abutment T contained in said air-chamber, a doorR, provided with nozzle R and opening R and a spring-plate XV, havinghooks V and W all arranged and operated substantially as shown anddescribed.

13. The combination, with the air-brake- 2o 14;. The combination, withthe frame K and door R, of the nozzle R, provided with projecting plateR and rubber band it, substantially as described.

DAVID J. LUPTON.

\Vitnesses:

W. R. GATCHELL, J. M. GIBBINs.

